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Startups I Want to Fund

startupandrew.com

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Re: Startups I Want to Fund

#21

Post by nkrisc »

Jun8 wrote: post #13
tomjakubowski wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> ad hoc voice-based social networks based on proximity At the risk of being whooshed (the other points do seem sincere and "real"), do you mean... conversation? Like, you know, encountering another person in meat space and speaking to them?

Yes, but scope could be larger: If you like chatting with someone you can add them to your contacts. Another take on this would be voice-based reddit, e.g. voice chat rooms organized around topics, similar to subreddits. Everybody takes turns to talk with voice activated microphone on their phone while commuting.

Maybe car commuters are different but I take the train everyday and the car is packed with people in very close proximity but none of them ever seem interested in talking to strangers.

Re: Startups I Want to Fund

#23

Post by exabrial »

Startups I'd want to fund if I had the $:

* Flow batteries

* Hydrogen research (production, distribution, home & automotive fuel cells)

* Stronger permanent magnets

* Cost effective superconductors (rather than room temperature semi-conductors)

Re: Startups I Want to Fund

#24

Post by yazr »

mayop100 wrote: post #19
phlowbieuq wrote: post #3

How do you see these two sentences resolving into a single company that you would fund? > A normal first check from me ranges from $50k to $250k. > I’m very bullish on a capital-heavy, asset-full future for startups.

(author here) Angel investors almost never provide the bulk of the capital for a startup. We provide initial money, advise, and introductions to help raise more. So, yes, I expect the bulk of the "heavy capital" to come from institutional investors in later rounds. Also note that I invest in follow-on rounds, so my total investment in a startup might get much larger than $250k.

Could you comment on what increases seed funding chances when pitching a "big hairy goal" ?

Team? Progress so far? Clear road map? PoC & tech feasibility?

Re: Startups I Want to Fund

#25

Post by moorhosj »

Once upon a time I was working on a network of TOR routers. The idea was that I could go to a coffee shop and filter their wi-fi through my personal TOR router for enhanced security. Taken to the next level, you could link many of these together for a mesh network of sorts.

The problem I encountered was explaining the concept to laypeople. This can be an issue in the "capital-heavy" and "sleeper" markets.

Re: Startups I Want to Fund

#26

Post by exabrial »

exabrial wrote: post #23

Startups I'd want to fund if I had the $: * Flow batteries * Hydrogen research (production, distribution, home & automotive fuel cells) * Stronger permanent magnets * Cost effective superconductors (rather than room temperature semi-conductors)

I think hydrogen should get a huge push because it completes a zero impact ecosystem.

If the hydrogen is powered from solar/wind, then fuel cells process that into heat for homes, electricity for lights, and purified water for drinking.

Re: Startups I Want to Fund

#27

Post by lifeisstillgood »

Waste pickup - someone posted recently a blog from Taiwan, where they have 4/5 garbage collections per day, people simply wait till they hear the truck outside and walk out with their bag and chuck it in the back

Now this really only work in a city that is compact, and quiet enough to hear the garbage truck music

Which leads me on to Strong Towns, where the argument is that the sub-urban sprawl model is unsustainable- and that might be another indicator, a code smell if you like, that it's hard to alter your suburban model compared to the city model.

Re: Startups I Want to Fund

#29

Post by arikr »

yazr wrote: post #24
mayop100 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

(author here) Angel investors almost never provide the bulk of the capital for a startup. We provide initial money, advise, and introductions to help raise more. So, yes, I expect the bulk of the "heavy capital" to come from institutional investors in later rounds. Also note that I invest in follow-on rounds, so my total investment in a startup might get much larger than $250k.

Could you comment on what increases seed funding chances when pitching a "big hairy goal" ? Team? Progress so far? Clear road map? PoC & tech feasibility?

Not OP, but the slides here give a really great answer to that question: https://www.codingvc.com/saastr-2017

Re: Startups I Want to Fund

#30

Post by carapace »

I haven't been able to find a lot of information on him, does anyone have any good links to background info?

This is going to sound both arch and snarky, and I apologize in advance for that, but I have a point to make and I think it's topical. I'll stay civil.

Has he purchased a beachfront property and then denied his neighbors their accustomed access?

Has he used any of my childhood heroes as a legal blind to secretly sue an obnoxious media company into oblivion?

What's his attitude towards the Republic of China (Taiwan)?

I started to read about his experience during the Haitian earthquake, but I had to set it aside, to read at a time when it would be more appropriate to bawl my eyes out. (No one wants to see a grown man cry. I somehow didn't understand what had happened and learning about it now is just devastating. My God! Poor Haiti!) He stuck around and helped out, so I'm thinking he's an incredibly good guy. Can anyone help me with that?

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